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Chapter 6
An uneasy tension hung over the Blake Estate.
For some inexplicable reason, the delinquent young master, Ian Blake, had spent the entire day wandering all over the mansion.
To the servants, Ian was like a broken bomb that could explode at any moment.
That was the image of him burned into their minds, so everyone spent the day anxiously wondering when disaster would strike.
Yet…
Something felt different today.
“That wild boar tore through the estate… and nothing was destroyed?”
Not a single person had been beaten.
Not a single object had been smashed.
It had been nearly ten years since Ian had rampaged through the mansion without leaving destruction in his wake.
How could they not be suspicious?
The servants whispered among themselves, convinced he had to be planning something even worse.
“Just how big of a disaster is he preparing?”
Everyone held their breath, nervously watching his every move.
Then, completely against everyone’s expectations, Ian quietly locked himself inside the library.
“Looks like the sun’s going to rise in the west tomorrow. Hah… what a joke.”
Somewhere in a secluded corner of the mansion’s garden, the butler Harrison let out a dry laugh.
Standing before him was a large, broad-shouldered middle-aged man.
One word described the man perfectly:
Rugged.
“Gren… what should we do now?”
“…”
The giant was Gren Maiden, captain of the Gren Mercenary Company.
He looked down at Harrison before replying in a low voice.
“And why are you asking a mere mercenary?”
“Tch! Because I’m frustrated! You brick-headed idiot! You need money too, don’t you? So think seriously for once! We’ve really run out of time!”
“If you were going to pressure me like this, you shouldn’t have stopped me back then.”
“Oh, really? And what do you think would’ve happened if I hadn’t? No matter how much of a scumbag he is, he’s still a noble! You can’t just draw your sword and cut down a noble in front of everyone.”
He let out a heavy sigh.
“The outcome would’ve been obvious. That’s exactly why I’m suffering like this now. Damn it… we’re really out of time.”
Harrison sighed repeatedly.
Gren, however, showed no sympathy.
Instead, he mocked him.
“Running out of time is your own fault. You’re the one who sold the information about Benon Blake’s death.”
“Heh… the payment was pretty generous. How was I supposed to resist? If you had a problem with it, you should’ve said something then. What? Want me to toss you a few coins now?”
“Hmph. I didn’t stay here for pocket change.”
“Yeah, yeah. Of course not.”
A crooked smile spread across Harrison’s face.
He knew exactly why Gren Maiden still remained at this cursed Blake household.
Seeing Harrison’s knowing grin, Gren returned one of his own.
“This isn’t the time to be stubborn. Like you said, we’re out of time. The Avengers have probably already gathered in Wade Wesley after catching the scent.”
“Hngh… you mean the vengeance hunters from every race? Damn… just hearing that name gives me chills.”
“You’ve supposedly witnessed their terror firsthand, yet you’re still dragging your feet. Have you become so old that you no longer value your life? Judging by how greedy you still are, that doesn’t seem to be the case.”
“Listen to you… That’s not it. It’s just… ah… how do I explain this…”
Harrison nervously looked around before lowering his voice.
“That bastard… I don’t know what he ate, but he’s acting strange. No… more than strange.”
“…Ian Blake has always been strange. That’s nothing new. He’s always been an idiot. A complete moron.”
“I know that! I know!”
“…Then what are you trying to say?”
“I can’t explain it! He used to be a crazy idiot, but now he’s… somehow…”
As Harrison searched for the right words—
“Harrrriiison!”
A familiar voice echoed through the garden.
It was Ian Blake.
“Oh, damn that clueless brat! I spent all day trying to avoid him!”
Grinding his teeth, Harrison frantically searched for somewhere to hide.
Unfortunately…
Ian reached him first.
“There you are. I’ve been looking everywhere.”
Ian smiled mischievously.
“I-Ian, sir… haha…”
Without realizing it, Harrison swallowed hard.
Like a mouse cornered by a cat.
“Oh, Gren’s here too.”
“…”
Ian casually waved.
Gren didn’t react at all.
“Come on. At least pretend you’re happy to see me.”
“…”
Only then did Gren give the slightest nod.
Considering their difference in status, such disrespect should’ve been unthinkable.
Ian simply laughed it off.
“Well, we’ll have a proper conversation someday. Let’s save the bonding for later. Harrison.”
“Y-Yes?!”
“Why are you so startled? I need you to prepare something.”
“At this hour…?”
“What? Am I not allowed to do anything at this hour?”
“N-No, sir!”
“Then why argue with me? Come to think of it, you’re always questioning everything I say. Do I look easy to push around?”
“N-No! I would never dare…”
His trembling arms flailed helplessly like balloons at a festival.
Ian chuckled.
“Relax. I’m kidding.”
“Ah…”
“I said it was a joke. Why aren’t you laughing?”
“Hahahahahahaha!”
“That’s better. You’re quite the veteran butler. Since you’re such a veteran… I’m sure you’ll handle this professionally too.”
Flick.
A single document fluttered through the air toward Harrison.
He caught it instinctively.
“…What’s this?”
Hope Orphanage
Donation Ledger
“I’ll be resting in my room. Prepare everything just like last time.”
“You have… fifteen minutes.”
“I’ll be waiting.”
“W-Wait—!”
Ian had no intention of listening.
Leaving behind only the document and a fifteen-minute deadline, he turned and walked away.
Harrison crushed the paper in his grip.
“…That son of a bitch.”
He laughed bitterly.
“Hope Orphanage? I knew he was being too quiet today. So he’s still obsessed with that woman. What an idiot…”
So that was why he hadn’t bullied the servants today.
Harrison clicked his tongue while tapping the document with his finger.
Then…
He suddenly froze.
An idea struck him.
Slowly, he turned toward Gren.
“That’s it!”
Eureka.
“Hehehe…”
Ideas flooded into his mind.
The world was a dangerous place.
After all…
A carriage wheel might “unluckily” come loose, sending the carriage over a cliff.
A monster that should never appear there might “coincidentally” show up and slaughter everyone.
Or perhaps…
A mysterious band of thieves might “unfortunately” launch an ambush.
Scenario after scenario played through Harrison’s mind.
His face looked as refreshed as someone who had finally pulled out an aching tooth.
“Now everything’s settled.”
Just as he thought that—
“What’s settled?”
“Gah!”
“You jump every time I speak. If I call your name twice, you might actually die of fright.”
“I-Ian?!”
“What? Did you see something horrifying? Well… I suppose my face isn’t exactly pleasant.”
“N-No, that’s not…”
“Anyway, I forgot one thing, so I came back.”
“…Forgot what?”
Harrison’s expression stiffened.
He had a bad feeling.
And when Ian spoke…
That feeling became reality.
“After the orphanage, we’re going straight to the Amilleur Black Market.”
“…What?!”
“You insane bastard!”
Harrison nearly exploded inside.
Something had definitely gone wrong with Ian.
Normally, they’d have to beg him endlessly just to leave the orphanage because of that woman.
Yet today, everything he did defied expectations.
“Calm down… there’s still a chance. As long as the participation letter doesn’t reach Amilleur, their Shadow escorts won’t come. Then the plan can still succeed.”
To do that…
He first had to intercept the letter.
“I-I understand, Sir Ian! I’ll personally send the participation letter to Amilleur—”
“Hm? No need.”
“I already sent it.”
“…What?”
“I said it’s already been sent.”
“So don’t worry about it.”
“…Ah.”
Harrison stood there with his mouth hanging open.
Who in the world had actually carried out Ian’s errand?
Were there really any servants left in the Blake household who still obeyed him without question?
He hadn’t received a single report.
His thoughts became increasingly tangled.
“Why are you making that face?”
“I… I simply hadn’t received any report…”
“Oh, that’s because you’re such a hardworking butler.”
“I figured you’d be busy, so I handled it myself.”
“I specifically told them to go straight there without stopping anywhere.”
“Pretty thoughtful of me, right?”
“Y-Yes…”
“Good. Feel free to be even happier.”
“Now hurry up.”
“Look at that—we’ve already spent five minutes talking.”
“You’ve only got ten minutes left.”
“Hahaha!”
Laughing loudly, Ian finally disappeared into the mansion.
The next instant…
Crunch.
A terrifying grinding sound echoed through the garden.
Hopefully Harrison hadn’t actually broken his teeth.
“That crazy bastard… At least until the black market closes tonight, we can’t touch him…”
He turned to Gren.
“You saw that, didn’t you? I’m telling you, something’s wrong with him!”
“…”
“Gren?”
Receiving no answer, Harrison looked over.
Gren was silently staring in the direction Ian had disappeared.
His expression was unusually complicated.
After a brief moment…
His face returned to its usual stoic look.
“…It’s nothing.”
“I’ll go make my preparations.”
“H-Hey! Wait!”
“Damn that walking lump of muscle! Neither of those idiots is likable!”
His angry shout echoed throughout the garden.
The louder Harrison yelled, the faster the servants worked.
As a result, Ian’s requests were completed in remarkably little time.
Soon…
An extravagant four-horse carriage stood before the Blake mansion.
Behind it stretched a line of supply wagons loaded with food, clothing, and other goods.
Their escort was none other than Gren Maiden and the Gren Mercenary Company.
“You really did finish in ten minutes.”
“Good work.”
Ian patted Harrison on the shoulder before climbing into the carriage.
Harrison muttered something under his breath, but Ian didn’t bother teasing him this time.
“I don’t have the time… or the luxury.”
“Time is already short. I need to use every minute efficiently.”
Settling into the soft sofa inside the carriage, Ian gazed out the window.
The massive gates of the Blake Estate slowly came into view.
He took a long, deep breath.
“All right…”
“Stay focused.”
Just then—
“Departing!”
The coachman’s shout rang out.
The horses snorted.
The carriage began rolling forward, and the scenery outside gradually changed.
Their destination…
A small church on the outskirts of town.
Hope Orphanage.
*
“Looks like they spent a fortune on this carriage.”
It reminded Ian of the time he’d ridden in a friend’s Genesis G80.
Smooth.
Stable.
Comfortable.
The difference was…
This wasn’t a modern luxury sedan.
It was a medieval-style carriage.
Yet it offered nearly the same level of comfort.
“Money really is amazing.”
“Whether it’s this world or the last.”
People always say money can’t buy happiness.
Ian had his own opinion.
“If money can’t buy happiness… maybe you just don’t have enough money.”
“That’s the kind of world we live in, whether we like it or not.”
That was exactly why he’d always believed in living for today.
Because he wanted to be happy.
Without worries.
“Too bad that’s impossible right now.”
Even while riding in such a luxurious carriage, his body felt relaxed, but his mind remained restless.
Outside the window, the nighttime scenery of Wade Wesley unfolded.
As darkness settled, lights gradually illuminated the lakeside.
Soon countless lights covered the city, creating a breathtaking spectacle.
It was a scene full of life.
Yet…
Ian could only sigh.
He couldn’t even enjoy such a beautiful view in peace.
That alone was regrettable.
“Nothing’s happening… right?”
His eyes constantly scanned the surroundings.
A monster could suddenly appear.
A wheel could break.
The carriage could plunge off a cliff.
He couldn’t afford to lower his guard.
Fortunately…
He had already purchased “insurance.”
Amilleur.
Thanks to that, nothing suspicious had happened so far.
“Even the mercenaries are quiet.”
From their perspective, this should have been the perfect opportunity.
Yet none of them made a move.
It seemed the name Amilleur truly carried tremendous influence.
Just as Ian began to relax—
His eyes met Gren Maiden’s.
Ian deliberately smiled before looking away.
He wasn’t ready to decide how he should treat Gren.
Enemy…
Or ally…
Gren Maiden
Male | 41 | Human
Resolute and Unyielding Mercenary Captain ★★★
- Level: 53
- STR: 73
- INT: 32
- DEX: 76
- CON: 80
- CHA: 16
Traits:
- Fortitude
- Greatsword Mastery
- Close-Quarters Combat
- Lone Fighter
- Belion Kingdom Martial Arts
- Faded Chivalry
Alignment: Neutral
Potential: C Rank
“Exactly what he appears to be.”
His stats were excellent.
His traits were outstanding.
And thanks to the upgraded Appraisal Skill, Ian could now see a new category:
Potential.
“Let’s see… the description says the higher the Potential Rank, the more room someone has to grow.”
“A C Rank means… maybe another ten to fifteen points in his future stats?”
If that happened…
He’d be an absolute monster.
Compared to the other mercenaries in his company, Gren already exceeded them by more than thirty points in Strength, Dexterity, and Constitution.
The others all had F-Rank Potential.
Comparing them wasn’t even fair.
“Why is someone like this working for slave traders?”
The more Ian looked at him, the more valuable Gren seemed.
Someone who would be incredibly reliable…
If only he became an ally.
Yet one thing continued bothering him.
“There it is again.”
Alignment: Neutral
For some reason…
Gren’s alignment kept changing.
Sometimes neutral.
Sometimes hostile.
Just this morning, he’d been marked as hostile.
“Seriously… what kind of guy are you?”
One day, Ian decided, he’d sit down and have a proper conversation with him.
Assuming they didn’t end up crossing swords first.
“Before that, though, I need to investigate Gren Maiden thoroughly.”
Whether through an information broker…
Or someone close to him…
If Ian dug deep enough, he was bound to uncover something.
Until then…
Caution was the only option.
“For now…”
“Let’s focus on this.”
Sub Quest No. 10
Donation (?/?)
Whenever you perform a good deed through donations, you will receive Status Points proportional to the value of what you donated.
Today’s destination was the Amilleur Black Market.
There was no telling what awaited him there.
So before entering…
He intended to gather as many Status Points as possible.
Since the orphanage was already along the way, it wouldn’t cost him any extra time.
“Ah…”
“I can see it now.”
Hope Orphanage came into view.
Smoke rose from its chimney.
It looked like dinner was being prepared.
“Yeah…”
“I definitely picked the wrong time to come.”
At that very moment…
His stomach growled.
“Damn it…”
“Just endure it a little longer.”
“I’ll find a slave who can detect poison.”
“After that, I’ll stuff myself until my stomach bursts.”
“Just… endure today.”
Clutching his painfully empty stomach, Ian forced himself to bear the hunger.
Then…
The carriage gradually slowed.
Through the square window, he finally saw the small church.
Hope Orphanage.
At last…
They had arrived at their first destination.
